Nonclogging, self-cleaning apparatus



March 3l, 1942. F. w. ARNOLD ETAL v 2,278,033 NON-CLCGGING SELF-CLEANING APPARATUS y v l Filed Jan. 27,' 1941 Patented Mar. 3l, 1942 UNITED *sTATs ansias NoNcLoGGING, SELF-CLEANING APPARATUS Fioyavv. Arnold an'Louis J. Richards,

i Azusa, Calif.

Application January 27, 1941, Serial N0. 37 6,214

1 claim. (c1. (s1- 16) 'I'his invention relates to a non-clogging, selfcleaning apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a nonclogging, self-cleaning apparatus on highway culverts, ditches, dams, reservoirs or any other construction for holding water.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a novel and efficient apparatus which, when temporarily clogged at its inlet end, will automatically operate to clean the primary pipe of the obstruction, whereupon the apparatus will operate at its maximum eiiiciency.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of an apparatus with an angularlydisposed auxiliary pipe, with respect to the primary pipe, and to these two pipes is assembled l in permanent relation an intermediary pipe which acts as a suction or self-cleaning unit of the apparatus.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partsof the apparatus being shown in longitudinal sections.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3 3, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, in which the preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated, I is the embankment, which is provided with shoulders 2, and with a pavement 3. Extending entirely through the embankment I is a horizontal primary pipe 4. A slotted auxiliary pipe 5 is preferably positioned at right angles to said primary pipe, near the inlet end 6 thereof, and this pipe 5 is integrally connected at its inner end to said pipe Il. A self-cleaning intermediary pipe 'l is integral at its outer end v/ith preferably the central part of auxiliary pipe 5; the inner end of said intermediary pipe 'l is integrally connected to the primary pipe 4, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

It is to be understood that the primary pipe :i is placed somewhere near the bottom of the ditch 0r dam or reservoir in which the apparatus is to be used. The auxiliary pipe 5 reaches to about the top of the ditch or reservoir in which it is operated. If the inlet end 6 of the primary pipe 4 is clogged the water in the ditch or reservoir will rise until it is of a sufficient level to pass into pipe 5, through its slots, and discharge into the intermediary pipe resulting in the water being discharged primarly through intermediary pipe l and thence into the primary pipe 4, and subsequently out of the discharge end 8 of said pipe fl. During this operation some of the water passing into auxiliary pipe 5 will be discharged by gravity into pipe 4 at the clogged end, giving suicient inflowing Water to act on the material clogging the end of pipe 4, while the inrushing water through intermediary piper l will cause a suction at its inner end, as the water passes into pipe 4, which` will draw or suck with power the water around the clogged material causing a successful Washing or flushing action on the clogging material, which will act to clean the stopped inlet end, and thereby produce a highly eicient cleaning action.

The slanting or inclining of the intermediary pipe 'I can ybe fixed by the constructor, to cause the greatest amount of rapid now of the water therethrough; in other words, the self-cleaning pipe '1, being on a slant, will cause the water from the normally vertical auxiliary pipe 5 to iiow at an increased or rapid rate of speed which in itself, causes a suction, in the primary pipe 4 at the inlet end thereof, and the suction will draw the clogging material from the face of the inlet end.

It will also be seen in the drawing that the slots in the vertical pipe 5 are formed in a staggered manner, which creates a whirlpool action around the vertical pipe; this action will cause a digging erosion on debris deposited there and will cause the debris to enter the slots and be carried through the culvert. If the ow of water continues long enough the entire mass will be carried through in this manner.

It is to be understood that more than one auxiliary pipe 5 and one intermediary pipe l may be employed (not shown) and that the auxiliary pipe 5 may be at a different angle to the primary pipe 4, than at right angles as shown, Without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

In Figure 1 the auxiliary pipe 5 is shown in an upstanding position, although it may be tilted, to rest at an angle to a perfectly vertical plane. However, it hasbeen found from actual experience with the working apparatus that the maximum amount of eiiiciency is obtained when the apparatus is in the position shown.

The Word pipe (or pipes) is used in this speciiicationand in the claim in a broad sense.

meaning any conduit, container, etc., which would perform the same function. The pipe, or pipes, may be constructed of any suitable material, such as metal, cement, glass, wood, etc. Further, the auxiliary pipe 5 has been referred to as a slotted pipe, whereas it may be apertured, or otherwise constructed to allow free passage of water or l sive manufacture of the same, and we, therefore,.

reserve the right to make such changes or alterations as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What we claim is:

In a non-clogging, self-cleaning apparatus, the

combination of a substantially horizontal primary pipe having an inlet and adapted to open upon a ditch and a discharge end adapted to open upon a ditch, a vertical auxiliary pipe being provided with slots arranged in staggered manner throughout its length, whereby a whirlpool action of water is created around said pipe, said auxiliary pipe opening at its lower end into said primary pipe near its inlet end, and an inclined ntermediary pipe connected at its upper end to and opening into said auxiliary pipe near its center and said intermediary pipe opening at its lower end into said primary pipe whereby water passing from said slotted auxiliary pipe down through said intermediary pipe and into said primary pipe will cause a suction in the primary pipe from its inlet end to the lower end of said intermediary pipe. x

FLOYD W. ARNOLD. LOUIS J. RICHARDS. 

